Netflix hires Viacom18’s Monika Shergill as international original series head

American video streaming service Netflix has appointed Monika Shergill to head its international original series division in India. Shergill was previously executive vice-president and head-content at Viacom18 Digital Ventures.

“We can confirm that Monika Shergill will join Netflix as Head, Series, International Originals, Netflix India,” a statement from the company said.

The head of series, international originals is an important role for Netflix India, industry experts say. Seen as the fastest content investment across markets in its first few years, Netflix's focus is to make the content offering in India good enough for more and more Indians to find it of value. This means creating mainstream original series and movies in India, adding top quality, big-budget licensed content as well as making the service the best streaming experience for its members.

Prior to Viacom18, Shergill has worked at Star India Pvt. Ltd as creative consultant, senior creative director for non-fiction at Star Plus and programming head for Star One. She was also associate creative director for fiction programming at Sony Entertainment Television.

In April this year, Netflix announced 10 new original feature films to be made in India, including tiles like

Ghost Stories, Class of ’83, Mrs. Serial Killer, Yeh Ballet, Guilty, House Arrest, Kaali Khuhi, Maska, Freedom and Serious Men.

Its web show line-up includes feminist drama Leila,

directed by Deepa Mehta, adaptations of books Midnight’s Children and Bard of Blood —the latter stars Emraan Hashmi and is co-produced by Shah Rukh Khan—and Baahubali: Before the Beginning , a spin-off of the iconic film franchise.